Smackdown Live Review 01/01/2019

Taped from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (12/29/18)

                       In-Ring Segment: The New Day
First SmackDown Live of 2019 kicks off with The New Day welcoming the WWE Universe to the first show of the new year dressed in formal attires. They then announce that they will be participating in the 2019 Royal Rumble in Phoenix, Arizona. Determined to win it as a team, they state that once they win, they will become WWE Champion since there is no logic to challenging Brock Lesnar since he is nowhere to be found nowadays. Following that announcement, they make the follow-up announcement that their New Year’s resolution from their doctors to no longer eat pancakes. Big E, dressed as a baby, fails that resolution by eating a pancake. The New Day then reference plots to the movie Bumblebee during their promo. Finally, Big E then states that there is a qualifying match for the Fatal Five Way main event to determine the number one contender for the WWE Champion at Royal Rumble to kick things off between Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy.
My Opinion:
To clear things out in the new year, witnessing Big E in a baby outfit might have been more disturbing than when Big Show did the same thing on Raw a couple of years back. However, I love the fact that the New Day threw Lesnar underneath the bus was awesome. The trio knows how to hype up an audience and gain the attention of each and every single person. I think having this kickoff 2019 was cool but can we please have less disturbing images? I mean, this is a PG show for God’s sake! 

Match #1: Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy 
When the bell rings, Samoa Joe immediately rushes Jeff Hardy with a serious of strikes to send him into the corner turnbuckle. In the process, Joe finds an opening to apply an Achilles lock. However, Jeff Hardy comes back with hot offense and gets Joe on the outside. Joe gets upset and tears the commentary table cover in anger while Hardy taunts him with the iconic “delete” taunt to send us into commercial break. Coming back from the break, Joe is seen dominating the Charismatic Enigma. Hardy attempts to make a slight return but Joe immediately stops the momentum. However, Hardy gets an opening and makes a huge comeback which ultimately leads to him hitting the Swanton Bom which sends Joe to the outside. Joe applies the Coquina Clutch from ringside to beat the ten count but is unsuccessful. He gains it once again and makes Hardy pass out for the victory.
Result: Samoa Joe via Submission
My Opinion: 
I really have the belief that WWE really loves to copy and paste their matches sometimes. I mean, how many times have we seen Joe and Hardy go head to head? As much as I am invested in the comeback for Jeff Hardy, you have to mix things up and give actual storyline. When you give the exact same match over and over again, it gets boring! Sure, the stipulation to get into the fatal-five way main event was awesome but there really is no payoff in match quality. I just hope we see something spiced up in the upcoming weeks! 

Backstage Segment: Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, AJ Styles
Vince and Shane McMahon discuss in hype about the fatal five way main event. AJ Styles enters the office and claims not to apologize for his actions against Vince McMahon last week on the Christmas Day episode. He then states that the McMahon Family will see who the real AJ Styles is tonight. Styles then asks if he wants to see who the real AJ Styles is before the main event as a threat to attack. Shane McMahon steps up to protect his father. Vince backs his son off and lets Styles leave the backstage area in peace.

In-Ring Segment: Kayla Braxton, Rusev, Lana, Shinsuke Nakamura
Kayla Braxton starts off by stating that last week was a huge moment for not only being his birthday and Christmas but his career by capturing the United States Championship. Braxton then asks how Rusev’s reign will be different than Nakamura. Rusev responds by saying that he will defend against any and all opponents. In the process of his promo, he is then attacked by Nakamura with a flying knee. While attacking Rusev, Shinsuke Nakamura is then attacked by Lana, who attempts to stop his actions. Rusev then hits the Machka Kick on Nakamura but also gets Lana hurt in the process. While giving aid to his wife, Rusev is then hit by a Kinsasha to lay him out. The segment ends with Rusev helping Lana up to her feet.

Match #2: Naomi vs. Sonya Deville 
The match begins with Mandy Rose unveiling an Uso shirt which leads to Sonya Deville attacking Naomi seeming that this is a different matchup from the original scheduled match. When Naomi comes back from the attack, Mandy Rose grabs the microphone and reveals the photo that she sent to her husband, Jimmy Uso. With that distraction, Deville takes advantage of Naomi by hitting her finisher, and getting the victory.
Result: Sonya Deville via pinfall
My Opinion:
This storyline despite its weirdly played angle is actually pretty entertaining! Who does not love to see a good ole fashion scandal between “God’s Greatest Creation” Mandy Rose and Jimmy Uso. I can guarantee you that photo of  Mandy Rose will go viral after tonight, which I will be waiting for.

In-Ring Segment: John Cena, Becky Lynch, Andrade Cien Almas, Zelina Vega
John Cena reflects on his 2018 including writing a children’s book, living in China, and growing out his air. However, he still believes that he could still fight for the new year. He then asks the WWE Universe why he is here? Cena responds by saying that he does not know and in a couple of seconds, someone’s music will play to call him an old-washed up veteran! He then ends by introducing whomever will interrupt and step up to him giving him a reason to stay in the ring. Becky Lynch appears. Lynch then asks Cena how it feels to have The Man step up to him. She then explains how Cena has personified WWE for decades and states that she is the one to take his place as The Man. She then threatens Cena to be the next big thing. Andrade Cien Almas and Zelina Vega appear. Vega claims that they are old news and claims to only see older and broken faces. She then introduces herself and Andrade to Cena and states that 2019 will be the Year of Tranquillo. Cena then proposes a mixed tag team match between himself and “The Man” Becky Lynch versus Zelina Vega and Andrade Cien Almas to see what the Man is all about. The segment ends with the teams ready to begin the impromptu match.

Match #3: Zelina Vega and Andrade Almas vs. Becky Lynch and John Cena – Mixed Tag Team Match
Becky Lynch starts the match for her respective team against Zelina Vega. After being dominated by Lynch, Vega tags in Cien Almas and Cien calls out Cena. Lynch refuses to tag him in and attempts to step up to Almas. The referee forces her to tag in Cena. John Cena and Cien Almas tie up with a roar of “We Want Becky” chants. Almas dominates and takes control. He then Irish whips Cena to his corner and while the referee is distracted by Becky, Zelina Vega attacks Cena with a high kick to the face. John Cena hits Almas with a suplex and goes towards the wrong corner for a tag which sets up Almas to gain control heading into commercial. Coming back from the break, Almas and Vega double team Cena and gets him into the corner turnbuckle. Cien dominates and sets up for the double knees but is unsuccessful. Cena makes the hot tag to Lynch and completely annihilates Vega with countless suplexes and strikes to the corner. The Man hits the BeXploder and sets up for the Dis-Arm-Her finisher but is broken up by Almas. After hitting Almas with the Attitude Adjustment and the Dragon Ball punch, Cena is then thrown over the top rope by Lynch and makes Vega tap out for the win. In post match, Cena offers a handshake for the victory but Lynch denies with a “U Can’t See Me” taunt.
My Opinion: 
Coming from an unbiased journalistic perspective, I absolutely loved seeing Becky Lynch confront John Cena! Also, Lynch really proved a point establishing herself as The Man by stepping up to the proclaimed “Face that Runs The Place”. I believe that WWE will introduce intergender matches this year considering how much altercation there was between the men and the women. Having Lynch dominate in the match as well as Almas and Vega showcasing great heel tactics and athleticism really made me invested in this match. It certainly did not disappoint. Great display from all four competitors! Maybe we might see the first intergender match?

Backstage Segment: Shane McMahon and The Miz
The Miz appears to Shane McMahon backstage with a proposal to have matching outfits for their team. Shane McMahon denies the first offer. Miz then describes how awesome it will be if they did not have his matching coat and headband, going on by showing him his vision for matching ring attire. McMahon says he will take that into consideration and leaves while Miz expresses his excitement that Shane liked the idea.

Match #4 (Main Event): Fatal Five Way Match – Styles vs. Orton vs. Joe vs. Mysterio vs. Ali
As soon as the bell rings coming back from commercial break, chaos implodes from all competitors within each other. After most competitors clear out of the ring, AJ Styles dominates and tries to one-up Randy Orton. However, Orton stops his momentum and Mustafa Ali hits him with the rolling x-factor. Joe stops Ali with a huge strike. Rey Mysterio then attacks Styles and takes him into the outside. Joe stops Rey and Ali from gaining any offense. While being distracted, Styles hits Joe with a Tornado DDT to send us to commercial break number two. Coming back, Randy Orton is seen stomping on Styles ruthlessly. Mysterio attempts to stop the attack but is unsuccessful. Styles comes back and clears the ring. Ali then appears and gets attacked. Styles then goes for the Styles Phenomenal Forearm but is stopped by Orton and Joe. The Submission Specialist then puts Styles through the announce table to take him out of the equation. The two remain standing Ali and Mysterio endure in a standoff in the ring. After a fury of back and forth offense, the two athletes meet on the top rope and Ali hits the Spanish Fly. Ali goes for the cover but Joe breaks up the two count. After taking out Joe, Ali makes an unsuccessful attempt at the 054 Finisher and is hit with the Coquina Clutch. Mysterio breaks it up with a 619 and Orton meets Ali with an RKO. While Orton is down in the ring after a fury of movement, Styles hits the springboard 450 splash to gain the victory, punching his ticket to the Royal Rumble at Chase Field for the WWE Championship.
Result: AJ Styles via pinfall
My Thoughts:
This main event might have been the best and most entertaining out of any SmackDown Live or just SmackDown in general that has started the new year, ever! I will be completely honest, how in the hell would you start this year any differently than with a real bang? I never knew some many combustible elements would create something special. From start to finish, we found ourselves seeing multiple dream matches come to life! I loved the chaos, the commentary table breakdown, and even the collision within each moment. Now, speaking for the WWE Universe, I was expecting Styles to win considering the hype around him finding himself again which to me was a huge disappointment. The reasoning is, I was hoping for a fresh new face winning and having an interesting championship match with The New Daniel Bryan come Royal Rumble. Hell, I would have been invested with a 2013 rematch between Orton and Bryan in a little heel vs. heel title match. However, in the end, the main event, granite it was taped beforehand, made me confident that this year will be a huge one for the blue brand. I am confident that more historic main events will come, especially during the road to WrestleMania!

Final Thoughts
What more can I say about this 2019 episode of SmackDown Live than phenomenal, excuse the pun! Sure, I was hoping for a different main event result but what more can be said. From Rusev Day USA to the reveal of a Many Rose partial nude photo to The Man confronting the All Mighty John Cena, the segments were pretty spot-on awesome to start the year. In my mind, have complete confidence that Team Blue will deliver once again in show quality in 2019 than all of its years after its inception in 2016. Did you hear the roar of the crowd when Becky stepped up to Cena? Did you see how much effort was put forth in the main event which was a show on its own right? Now do not get it twisted by thinking that every single review I do for SmackDown has been nothing but great because how can you discrete a show who has produced and over-exceeded expectations every Tuesday night? I hope this episode will pave the way for more awesome live episodes to come! I hope you all have a blessed 2019 and enjoy every single moment!